The Carolina Hurricanes made a splash at the trade deadline, acquiring star winger Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a package containing Michael Bunting and multiple picks and prospects.
The 29-year-old winger brings proven goal scoring and playoff performances to a lineup that needed a little extra oomph.
Guentzel spoke with the media via Zoom Friday afternoon. Here's what he had to say:
On coming to Carolina: I'm just obviously really excited. You know what the team's done in the past and how close they've been. Just obviously really excited for the opportunity. This is a special team with a lot of high-end players and they're really well coached. Excited to get the opportunity to play for them and we'll see what comes from there.
On what the last couple of days have been like: It was a pretty crazy couple of days. You're not really sure what to expect or where you're going or what's going to happen. It was definitely new territory for me, but it was just a lot of talking with my agent to see what was going on and what team's were interested and Carolina was the one that stepped up the most so I couldn't be happier and just looking forward to starting.
On his injury status: I've been skating for the last week or so. I'll get evaluated when I get down to Carolina and see the doctors there. So we're still waiting for that, but I'm not really sure when I'll be back in the lineup yet, but I'm trending in the right direction.
On Carolina's style of play: When you play against them, you just notice how hard they defend. They defend hard and it just feels like there's no ice against them. They play a fast game and you know they're going to play hard. I'm just excited to be able to play that style. It's different, the man-on-man, so it's going to be fun, a new challenge, and I'm just really excited for it.
On if there's any added pressure being traded to a team: You can think of it as pressure, but I'm just really excited. There's a lot of high-end players on this team. Players that have shown that they're really special. I think for me, that's really exciting to hopefully take my game to the next level as well. Just really looking forward to being able to play alongside some of these players and I just can't wait to see how it works out for us.
On who he knows on the team: I played with Stefan Noesen in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago and I played with Brady [Skjei] growing up with summer hockey. Glad it worked out where I'm going to a team where I know a couple of guys. I've heard nothing but amazing things about the city, the franchise and just everything about Carolina, so I'm just really excited.
On Sebastian Aho: He's just a special player. You watch from afar when you play against him and you know how good he is with a 200-foot game and obviously his offensive abilities are pretty special, among the top in the league. If I get the opportunity to play alongside him, it'll be a special honor. I know what kind of player he is. You look at the lineup, you can pretty much play with anyone. You'll always be playing with a pretty good player, so we'll see what happens, but I'm looking forward and just excited to be with pretty much anyone.
On being a shoot-first type of player: [Carolina having a lot of pass-first players] is obviously a good thing [for me]. You want to score goals in this league and you can't take it for granted when you're scoring. It's always a good thing when guys are setting you up, but shooting the puck and scoring goals is the biggest thing. So if that's what comes about this, then I'm excited for the opportunity. I'm just excited to get there.
On his time in Pittsburgh: It's kind of the only place I've known in professional hockey. I grew up here and the last seven and a half years have been pretty special. Got to play alongside some unbelievable players, but this is just the business when you don't win. Sometimes that's just part of the game and it's going to happen when situations come like this. Happy to be going to a good spot like Carolina. Just glad it worked out.
On his familiarity with Rod Brind'Amour: The only kind of interaction I've had with him was at the All-Star Game. He gave a speech in the locker room and I thought that was pretty cool. You kind of got fired up for the All-Star Game, so I'm just kind of excited. It's going to be different, but I've heard nothing but unbelievable things about Rod and just how he's a player's coach and a guy that played the game. Sure he'll expect a lot, but I'm just excited to see his coaching styles and to be able to play for him.
On if he has any plans on signing an extension at this time: I'm just taking it as it goes and seeing how it goes. I'm just coming down and working on playing and helping the team win and we'll see where it goes from there. Obviously I've heard nothing but unbelievable things about the city and the fanbase. Just going to see how it goes and then we'll go from there.
On his style of play: I'm just going to play hard and try to shoot the puck as much as possible and make enough plays as I can to make this team win. I know the style is a little bit different than the one we played here in Pittsburgh, so I'll have to get used to that. I think hopefully my style can fit some of the players that they have. They have some special players on this team.
On the process of being the top player on the market: It was pretty different with being hurt. You get a lot of the behind the scenes stuff like talking to the agent. I didn't have much communication with [Penguins GM Kyle Dubas] until the very end. That's when it kind of ramped up at the end. It was stressful at times because you're not really sure what's going to happen or where you're going to go, but it's kind of a fun experience and something new that you get to experience. Just really excited for the opportunity and this is a special team to go to.
On teaming up with a couple of former Washington Capitals: Those guys have been special players in this league for a long time, so I think you'd rather be teammates with them than playing against them because you know how good they are. It's going to be really special and I'm excited to have them on my team and just to be able to watch them up close is probably going to be the best part.
On being a consistent playoff performer: I just think there's no better time to play hockey than in the playoffs. I think the atmosphere just drives us that much more and it's just the time of the year. For me, I'm just trying to bring my game to that level and to be able to produce is something you want to do as a player. Just been fortunate to score some goals in the playoffs and hopefully that'll continue.